Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: October 2025

October 20th. A mostly cloudy day with occasional drizzle or rain in a moderate south/south-easterly wind.

A Richard's Pipit flew off south from the Freshwater Marsh, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers included one still present in Sykes's Farm and three new birds found in the afternoon. Another Firecrest was trapped and ringed in East Dunes. A Black Redstart was around the Visitor Centre.

Tennyson's Sands held 48 Pink-footed Geese, 15 Shoveler, 300 Teal, 1 Water Rail, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Cetti's Warbler. On the sea heading south were 5 Brent Geese, 122 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 1 Pintail, 2 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 4 Eider, 18 Common Scoter, 1 Great Crested Grebe. On the beach were 4 Turnstone. Elsewhere around the reserve there were 56 Fieldfare, a Ring Ouzel, 10 Rock Pipit, 5 Stonechat, 6 Chiffchaff, 30 Goldfinch, 14 Crossbill (South), 1 Red Kite, and a Marsh Harrier

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 18 new birds: a Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest, a Blackcap, 5 Robin, a Blue Tit, a Redwing and 5 Blackbird; 3 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and a Robin; and a control Goldcrest.

Firecrest, ringed 20 October 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Shovelers on Tennyson's Sands, 20th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

October 19th. Partly cloudy, with moderate south-easterly wind, and rain developing in the afternoon.

Early news concerned a Firecrest trapped and ringed in the East Dunes. A much quieter day at sea with a few parties of passing wildfowl, several Red-throated Divers and 4 northbound Velvet Scoter. A typical autumn spread of Thrushes, Robins and Goldcrests in the dunes with single Yellow-browed Warbler still at Sykes Farm and Ring Ouzel in the East Dunes. A total of 48 Crossbills headed south down the West Dunes in multiple flocks. A Snipe also flew south.

Also around the reserve were 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail (Mere), 1 Cetti's Warbler, several Chiffchaff, several Brambling, 20+ Lesser Redpoll and several Rock Pipits. An arrival of Thrushes was noted early afternoon with a Black Redstart.

A wind-shortened morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 29 new birds: 7 Goldcrest, a Firecrest, 4 Robin, a Reed Bunting, 3 Song Thrush, 11 Blackbird and a Sparrowhawk; and 6 retraps: 3 Blackbird and 3 Goldcrest.

A ringing session in the West Dunes by Mick Briggs resulted in 91 new birds: 41 Blackbird, 15 Goldcrest, 10 Redwing, 9 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 1 Blackcap, 1 Robin and 1 Greenfinch; and 37 retraps: 14 Great Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Goldfinch, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Robin, 1 Treecreeper and 1 Magpie.

Firecrest, ringed 19 October 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Black Redstart, 19th October 2025
Photo - Kev Wilson

Fieldfare, 19th October 2025.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Ring Ouzel in East Dunes, 19th October 2025
Photo - Rob Watson

October 18th. Partly cloudy, with light southerly to south-easterly wind.

A switch in wind direction this morning brought about an unprecedented wildfowl movement over the sea. Many flocks of Wigeon, totalling 2785, moved south into the Wash with 1019 Teal, 514 Brent Geese, 139 Common Scoter, 21 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Goldeneye, a Goosander, and a Long-tailed Duck. Also offshore were 2 Slavonian Grebe, a Red-necked Grebe, 2 Arctic Skua, a Little Gull and 11 Red-throated Diver.

With the intensity of passage at sea it was difficult to accurately count the overland migration of Pipits, Skylarks, and Finches but there were more Bramblings and Redpolls in the movement, and 500 Starlings arrived off the sea and moved south-west. A total of 31 Crossbill, 2 Swallow and 2 Grey Wagtails also moved south. New Blackbirds, Redwings, Chaffinches, Reed Buntings and Goldcrests were arriving throughout the day. There were 5 Ring Ouzels, 5 Jack Snipe (one showing well on the Mere) and 19 Crossbills in the North Car Park pines.

A Yellow-browed Warbler remained around Sykes Farm and was joined by a second bird late afternoon, and the Firecrest was elusive in the East Dunes. Other bids around included 5 Stonechat, 7 Chiffchaff, 21 Blackcap, a Bullfinch, 9 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Water Pipit, a Hen Harrier, a Merlin and a Peregrine.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 26 new birds: 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Robin, 3 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing and 8 Blackbird; and 14 retraps: a Song Thrush, a Redwing, 4 Blackbird, 4 Robin, 3 Goldcrest and a Wren.

Jack Snipe on the Mere, 18th October 2025

Video - Alison Stevenson

Whimbrel, 18th October 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Water Rail, 18th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Chiffchaff, 18th October 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Ring Ouzel, 18th October 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Ring Ouzel, 18th October 2025
Photo - Rob Stevenson

Stonechat, 18th October 2025
Photo - Paul Neale

Snow Bunting, 16th October 2025
Photo - Sam Wilson

October 17th. Cloudy, with light north-westerly to north-easterly wind.

Another good day for birding the Reserve with a further arrival of Blackbirds, Redwings and Chaffinches in particular with some Fieldfares and Goldcrests. A Firecrest and a Yellow-browed Warbler were new arrivals in the East Dunes whilst one of the recent Yellow-browed Warblers remained around Sykes Farm. There were 3 Ring Ouzels today including 2 new arrivals. Some Finches (including 35 Redpoll and several Brambling), Pipits and Skylarks were moving south with a Twite being the first of autumn. Also first of the autumn was a Woodcock in the West Dunes. The run of daily Crossbills continues with 3 birds heading south and the flock of 13 again around the North Car Park.

Other birds around included 15 Brent Geese, a Jack Snipe, 2 Avocet, 3 Greenshank, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, a Merlin, a Barn Owl, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Stonechat, a Swallow, 15 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff and 6 Cetti's Warbler.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 18 new birds: 3 Goldcrest, a Wren, 4 Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, 2 Redwing and 7 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Redwing and 2 Blackbird.

The warm conditions led to another amazing nights moth trapping at Sykes Farm by Nigel Lound. The catch was made up of 466 moths of 38 species which is incredible for mid October. It included 2 more Merveille du Jour with at least one of them being a new individual (following on from the two on the 15th October), just the 4th for the reserve ever. There was also the reserves 2nd L-album Wainscot of the year and a Blair's Shoulder-knot was a first for the year for the reserve.

Greenshank, 17th October 2025
Photo - Adrian Royle

Water Rail, 17th October 2025
Photo - Adrian Royle

Fieldfares, 17th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Redwing, 17th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Rock Pipit, 17th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Grey Wagtail, 17th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Stonechat, 17th October 2025
Photo - Adrian Royle

Barn Owl out and about hunting, 17th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

Roe Deer, 17th October 2025
Photo - Tom Baker

The 2nd L-album Wainscot for the year, 17th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

A Blair's Shoulder-knot - a 1st for the year, 17th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

October 16th. Cloudy, with light northerly to north-easterly wind.

Early news involved the ringing of the fourteenth Cetti's Warbler this autumn at the Observatory. Another 3 Cetti's Warblers were about with one showing well on the track to North Hide on Tennyson's Sands early on, another on the Cycle Track area near North Car Park and another around Shoveler's Pool. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Sykes Farm and 2 Short-eared Owls flew in off the sea. During the afternoon 3 Crossbills were showing in the Pines at North Car Park and a Water Rail was showing well in front of Harvey's Hide on Tennyson's Sands.

Other birds around the reserve included 1 Razorbill (North), 3 Sandwich Tern (North), 220 Pink-footed Geese, 39 Brent Geese, 25 Wigeon, 1 Turnstone (Beach), 2 Snipe, 4 Greenshank, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Merlin, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, 22 Robin, 1 Stonechat, 5 House Sparrow, 6 Rock Pipit, 3 Brambling, 9 Crossbill (North) and 19 Siskin.

Interestingly the Sycamore Trees in the West Dunes opposite the entrance to Sykes Farm have been so deprived of water all year that they have now started to come into leaf. They started to drop their leaves far too early in July and August. Now with the mild temperatures and first noticeable rains in six months, they have started to think it is the spring and are coming into leaf and producing flower buds.

Unfortunately the winter is nearly upon us and these leaves will quickly turn autumnal in colour and be lost as well, not good for the cycles of a tree, having two springs in one year! Their rings will tell the tale of probably the driest year in the life span.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes resulted in 27 new birds: 2 Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Goldcrest, a Robin, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, a Blackcap, 4 Great Tit, a Redwing and 10 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 3 Blackbird, a Blackcap and 3 Goldcrest.

Black-tailed Godwit, 16th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Long-tailed Tit, 16th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Sycamores coming into leaf at the wrong end of the year due to drought conditions all summer.
16th October 2025, Photo - Mick Briggs

October 15th. Cloudy, with some brief late morning drizzle and moderate northerly to north-easterly wind.

Numbers if thrushes were still depressed from Monday but other migrants were still arriving. Yellow-browed Warblers included one at the North End in Sycamores by Seacroft Lagoon, one by the track to Sykes Farm, one by the Cycle Track near North Carpark and later on in the afternoon, possibly a different pair or possibly the same birds by the buildings in Sykes Farm. There were several Ring Ouzels in Compartment 26 north of Mill Hill. Also recorded around the reserve were a total of 6 calling or singing Cetti's Warblers.

Also about were 9 Brent Geese, 1 Water Rail (Tennyson's Sands), 70+ Redwing, 50 Blackbird, 2 Coal Tit, 15 Chiffchaff, a Swallow (South along the beach), 1 Stonechat (Tennyson's Sands), 12 Siskin, 40+ Lesser Redpoll, 2 Brambling and a Snow Bunting (Seacroft frontage and first one of the Autumn).

A morning ringing session in East Dunes provided 32 new birds: a Wren, 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, a Reed Bunting, a Robin, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, 3 Redwing and 14 Blackbird; and 12 retraps: 2 Robin, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 2 Blackbird and a Dunnock.

Ringing Control: A Brambling caught on the 13th October 2025 at the Observatory by the SBRG was originally ringed at Revtangen Ornithologiske Stasjon, Klepp, Rogaland, Norway on the 11th October 2022. A movement of 705km over 1098 days although this bird is likely to have been forward and backwards across the North Sea 3 times previously during its life, an amazing individual controlled during its fourth journey towards its wintering grounds and having completed its seventh crossing of the North Sea - no mean feat! A testament to bird migration and survivability. It really shows the value of ringing by the Observatory on the reserve.

Overnight Moth Trapping at Sykes Farm by Nigel Lound over night resulted in over 300 moths attracted to light. These included the reserves 2nd ever record of Oak Rustic, a nationally scarce resident and immigrant as well as well as our 2nd and 3rd ever records of Merveille du Jour (which translates as "Marvel of the day" and easy to see why!). Although scarce on our coast, it is a common resident of Oak Woodlands. Also note worthy were 2 Radford's Flame Shoulder, another rare immigrant to the Lincolnshire Coast.

Oak Rustic Moth, 15th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

x2 Marvel du Jour Moth (Marvel of the Day), 15th October 2025
Photo - Nigel Lound

October 14th. A cloudy day with occasional drizzle in a light northerly breeze.

Most of yesterday's influx of thrush arrivals had moved on overnight. However, at least four Yellow-browed Warblers remained including one in the Sallows just north of North Car Park, another in Barrie's Plot just south of Roadside Pond, (another was just north of the reserve near Drake Road/Sea Front Road), and another one was in Measure's Clump.

Heading north along the beach were 8 Grey Herons in one long line, and a single Gannet was seen heading south over the sea, whilst 10 Common Scoter were on the sea. Also about were 500 Pink-footed Geese, 12 Snipe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Buzzard, 3 Ring Ouzels, a Green Woodpecker, 1 Water Pipit (Flushed from Fresh Water Marsh) and 5 Cetti's Warblers and lots of Robins.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes produced 21 new birds: 7 Goldcrest, a Wren, 2 Robin, 4 Redwing and 7 Blackbird; and 3 retraps: a Blue Tit and 2 Goldcrest.

The Mere which is so dry now that its just grazing for Horses rather than a water bird habitat!
7th October 2025 - Photo - David Nutt

Eclipse Male Wigeon, 14th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Chaffinch, 7th October 2025
Photo - David Nutt

October 13th. Misty start, then cloudy with occasional drizzle in a light north to north-east breeze.

Early news concerned a big arrival of thrushes, mostly Redwings (In their thousands) and Blackbirds with some Fieldfares and Song Thrushes, and other autumn migrants all over the reserve. A Yellow-browed Warbler (68th for the Observatory ever) and the twelfth and thirteenth Cetti's Warblers ringed this autumn were trapped in East Dunes.

A Spotted Flycatcher was on the Cycle Track near the Sykes Farm entrance. At least 4 Bearded Tits and a Cetti's Warblers were seen from Fenella Hope hide on Tennyson's Sands. Thrushes were still much in evidence at dusk with over 600 Redwing and 100 Blackbirds in the West Dunes along with a vocal Ring Ouzel. At Sykes Farm, a Yellow-browed Warbler was calling near dusk around the back of the Pole Barn. A Water Pipit was heard calling over Sykes Farm during the day and presumably the same bird was reported calling during the late afternoon around the Fenland Lagoon.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group resulted in 98 new birds: 9 Goldcrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler, a Great Tit, a Robin, a Blue Tit, a Dunnock, 51 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 26 Blackbird and a Kingfisher; 3 retraps: 2 Long-tailed Tit and a Goldcrest; and a control Brambling with a Stavanger ring (Norway).

Yellow-browed Warbler, ringed 13 October 2025.
Photo - SBRG

Kingfisher, ringed 13th October 2025
Photo - SBRG

A Stavanger (Norway) Brambling Control, caught 13th October 2025
Photo - SBRG

Ring Ouzel, 13th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
One of hundreds of Redwings that arrived this morning, 13thOctober 2025
Photo - Jack Hood
One Redwing of thousands around the reserve, 13th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
One Blackbird of hundreds that arrived this morning, 13th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Kestrel, 13th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Kestrel, 13th October 2025
Photo - Mike Watts
Roe Deer, 13th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

October 12th. A very foggy start, slowly clearing by mid day, then mostly cloudy, with a very light westerly wind becoming variable later on.

The eleventh Cetti's Warbler ringed this autumn was trapped in East Dunes and another Cetti's Warbler was calling early on from near to the reserve entrance in the West Dunes. Birding conditions during the morning were virtually impossible with visibility down to less than 100 feet across most of the reserve for most of the time. No birds were on the move and the ones already on the reserve were generally keeping their heads down from the thick wet fog.

Despite this, on Tennyson's Sands were a Jack Snipe (mid afternoon till early evening), 163 Teal, 32 Shoveler, a Water Rail, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Cetti's Warblers. Also around were a Barn Owl, a Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, 3 Water Pipit (all together calling over Sykes Farm), 2 Redwing, and a Treecreeper.

A morning ringing session, in combination with the Ringing Demonstration, by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group, provided 6 new birds: a Chiffchaff, a Wren, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap and a Cetti's Warbler; and 8 retraps: 4 Goldcrest, 2 Wren and 2 Robin.

A morning ringing session in the West Dunes by Mick Briggs provided 30 new birds: 10 Goldfinch, 5 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Robin, 1 Great Tit and 1 Song Thrush; and 24 retraps: 6 Blue Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Robin, 3 Great Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Dunnock and 1 Song Thrush.

About 45 guests visited the Observatory ringing demonstration through the course of the morning despite the horrendous weather, indeed the carpark was full for much of the morning. It would seem a good experience was had by all despite the relatively small amount of birds to view being ringed and much positive feedback was received. Many thanks to the team from Sorby Breck Ringing Group for hosting the demonstration during their weekend visit.

An evening ringing session by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group provided a catch of 4 new Rock Pipits, just the 17th to 20th ever ringed at the Observatory.

Bird Ringing Demonstration, 12 October 2025.
Photo - George Gregory

Four Rock Pipits, ringed 13th October 2025
Photo - Jack Baddams SBRG

Jack Snipe on Tennyson's Sands still in the early evening, 12th October 2025

Video - Stuart Ainsworth

Jack Snipe hiding in the reeds on Tennyson's Sands, 12th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Long-tailed Tit, 12th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

Barn Owl, 12th October 2025
Photo - Jack Hood

October 11th. Partly cloudy, with a very light westerly breeze becoming variable through the day.

Early news involved several thousand Pink-footed Geese flying around. The morning high tide roost produced 7200 Oystercatcher, 2250 Grey Plover, 186 Ringed Plover, 235 Curlew, 5900 Bar-tailed Godwit, 59 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 70,000 Knot, 2050 Sanderling, 10,100 Dunlin, 194 Redshank and 56 Cormorant.

Heading south were 25 Whooper Swans and a Marsh Harrier. The tenth Cetti's Warbler of the autumn was ringed in the East Dunes with another one re-trapped. At least 32 Crossbills went south in four flocks along the West Dunes. Also around were 55 Brent Geese, 4 Greenshanks (Fenland Lagoon), a Red Kite (Croft Marsh), a Merlin, a Peregrine, a Buzzard, a Water Pipit (heard calling over Harvey's Hide), a Cetti's Warbler (Cycle Track near North Car Park), a Green Woodpecker (Plantation), a Brambling, 3 Swallows (South) and 3 Stonechats.

A morning ringing session in East Dunes by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group produced 41 new birds: a Wren, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 13 Long-tailed Tit, a Cetti's Warbler, 3 Robin, a Goldfinch, 6 Blue Tit, a Robin, 2 Dunnock, a Song Thrush, 4 Redwing and a Sparrowhawk; and 8 retraps: a Cetti's Warbler, a Robin, a Redwing, 2 Long-tailed Tit, a Great Tit, a Goldcrest and a Wren.

An evening ringing session by the Sorby Breck Ringing Group produced 2 new Skylark.

Please note: There will be a Ringing Demonstration at the Bird Observatory tomorrow. The event is free however donations will be welcomed towards the Bird Observatory's upkeep. Staff and Volunteers will be on hand to assist with directions for the event from the Visitor Centre car park.